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Not only are reds, pinks and purples considered the colors of love, but they are the perfect colors to enhance and bring any venue or space alive! Through flowers, linens, dance floors, wall treatment, lighting or costuming, a romantic color scheme is the way to bring on the energy of any event!

Line the aisles with strewn petals and candles. Create romance with a large floral arch or chuppah outfitted with lots of flowers in pinks, whites or reds.

Have men come in red ties and women in black, white, pink or red! As a bride, add accents of lace or sparkle to create a soft, romantic look.

Display red and pink roses everywhere – set into anything that blings! Chair covers surrounding sequined or textured linens for your head table will set the visual stage for a sexy and glamorous table. Pass your drinks on red lacquered trays…and of course…make the drinks RED.

And of course, don’t forget about your desserts! Accent take-home favors, cupcakes or cakes with your pinks and reds and sparkles.

Looking forward to seeing how you all incorporate a romantic color palette into the month of love!

When looking to make a bridal shower or wedding reception extra sweet, all you have to do is add a little sugar. In other words, bring delicious candy onto the scene! It was so fun partnering up with Rosie O’Neill, co-founder of Sugarfina, and Love Detailed to show you how simple it can be to create the perfect candy station for your next event.

To style this project, we positioned take-home favors, Sugarfina’s signature Lucite candy boxes, in the drawers of a chic dresser. Need more inspiration and information? Here’s my conversation with Rosie and Love Detailed, where we are sharing some of our expert tips on how to design a beautiful candy station.

Love Detailed: If you were to claim that there are must-haves for every candy station that you design, what would some of them be?

Linda: My must-haves are different shapes and sizes of glass apothecary jars, candy scoops, risers and signage. I also love to mix textures and colors to add interest to the table.

Rosie: That contrast helps break it up and definitely gets good attention (referring to Linda). I love mixing metallic elements in also. And adding in confetti or poppers!

LD: What elements would you add in if you were trying to “spice it up”?

Linda: Anything you think is a fun detail at a birthday party or any other celebration. Typical party items such as streamers, confetti and glitter can help to make the table design come to life.

LD: Tell us some of your expert tips.

Rosie: Here’s one. First, stage your design empty and then add candy. Fill up a bag with the amount of candy you need, and pour gently right from the bag — this will help delicate candy stay intact.

Linda: Remember goodie bags? Why do only kids deserve them? For leftovers, fill up candy bags and send them home with your guests. I am also all about layering. Layer your candy in your color scheme to create a cohesive feel and make your station look “styled” — it comes out beautiful if done right.

LD: How much candy do you suggest per guest?

Linda: Depends on how sugar-happy your guests are, but I generally recommend a quarter pound of candy per guest.

LD: And what type of candy assortment should you go for?

Rosie: I’d suggest that you avoid mint and licorice — those are strong flavors that don’t always mix well with others. Also, I suggest avoiding nuts or candy bars that have them; you never know who has an allergy. I definitely recommend mixing smooth chocolate flavors with gummy and chewy candy. That, in my experience, tends to keep guests grinning.

Follow these expert tips and you will be on your way to a sweet celebration!

You asked & Linda answered! We will be bringing you Q&A’s from our expert every month . She will be covering anything and everything on wedding planning and answering all the questions that keep you up at night…

Q: What comes first, the guest list or the venue?A: Make certain to solidify your guest count before falling in love with a venue. How sad would it be to cut out people that you want to be there, due to a reception room and a dance floor being too small?

Q: How far in advance do I need to shop for my wedding gown?A: I suggest scheduling your first appointment 8-10 months out. If time is not an issue, enjoy “shopping” for your most favorite wedding gown. You will be surprised to see that you will fall in love with a gown and will spend the rest of the time comparing the other gowns to it. Stores will try to get you to commit, but gowns can still be received if you order 5 months out. So, do not get nervous… enjoy the experience!

Q: What questions do I need to ask the venue?A: How many people can the ceremony site hold? Reception site?
How large will the dance floor be?
Are there any sound restrictions?
What time can the reception go until?
Can we bring in specialty desserts, candy bars, etc.?
What time can the vendors come in to set up?
Can we bring in our own wine or liquor?
Can we bring in our own cake designer?

Q: Who, exactly, should be invited to the rehearsal dinner?A: Customarily, your rehearsal dinner will be made up of your bridal party, their significant others, your immediate family and your out-of-town guests. But, if your budget does not accommodate that, you can plan a rehearsal dinner for your bridal party, their significant others and your immediate family. Around 8:30 pm, you can invite all of your out-of-town guests to join you for a “welcome dessert reception” where everyone will be together to participate in the fun and festivities.

Q: How do I stop feeling like I forgot something? What is the most common thing brides forget to plan for their wedding? A: The best way to feel “prepared” for your BIG day is to organize your thoughts on paper! I always suggest that my brides keep a pad of paper and pen next to their bed at night. That is when all of the thoughts come swirling in your head. If you don’t write them down at the time you think of it, you will never remember it in the morning. Create a checklist of items to bring with you on the “day-of” the wedding. Take the time to check off each item.

The best way to stay calm and relaxed is to be organized. The week of your wedding should be spent getting ready, greeting all your out of town guests, and enjoying the special moments. If you do not have a Wedding Planner, then make certain to hire a day-of coordinator. You should be able to pass over all of your paper work and let her take over the coordination of all of your hard work and planning.

Purchase a portable and collapsible clothing rack. Begin to try on and place the clothing, the shoes and the purses you will be wearing for the Rehearsal Dinner, your Wedding Day, and for the Morning-After Brunch. Do this the week before your wedding, and then don’t think about it again! It is best not to go into your closet for any of these items. Also, you should think about the jewelry you will be wearing for these events, and place it in a box the week before the wedding.

Remember to get a floor plan from your venue a month out, showing where your tables will be placed in the room, along with the dance floor. Number the tables. Place all of your guests at their tables two weeks before your wedding. Create place cards for everyone according to their table number. Do NOT wait until the week of the wedding to do this, because it will stress you out way too much!

Do you have any wedding planning questions?Write me in the comments below.

Invitations are the introduction to your wedding and should reflect the theme, scheme and style of your Big Day. We know “invitation etiquette” can be daunting, so we are sharing our FAQ’s.

Q: If the Bride’s parents are throwing the wedding, how can I honor the Groom’s parents on the invitation?

A: If the parents of the Bride are hosting, then their names go on the top of the invitation, and the Groom’s parents will be recognized after his name…

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jones

Request the Pleasure of Your Company

at the Marriage of Their Daughter

Natalie Michelleto

John Bradley Richards

son of Mr. and Mrs. Evan Richards

Q: What should I include in a “More Information” or enclosure card?

A: I would create a Hotel Accommodation card, offering 3 different hotel choices at 3 different price levels.

I would also create a separate card for guests invited to the weekend activities, i.e. Rehearsal Dinner and After-Wedding Brunch

Q: Does the Rehearsal Dinner information belong in my invitation suite?
A: Rehearsal Dinner information can be put on a separate “Weekend Activities” card in the invitation envelope. Make sure to write whom the dinner hosted by.

You can also have the Parents of the Groom, or whoever is hosting the dinner, send out a separate invitation independently.

Q: Do I Include my registry information in the invitation suite?
A: I NEVER recommend that. Registry information on the Save the Date is much more appropriate.

Q: How do I know what stamps to use?
A: I like to use personalized stamps for all invitations. You can use a photo, or use your font and wedding colors to stylize your stamp. Zazzle.com has great options!

Q: How do I know what size stamps to get?
A: Think larger for larger invitations and smaller for return envelopes. Make certain to take an assembled sample invitation to the post office to weigh it before ordering stamps.